Recommendations and performance of coronary revascularization procedures in black and white patients.

Rates of cardiologists' recommendations for revascularization and rates of performance of these procedures were compared in 1,961 black and white patients who underwent cardiac catheterization at a larger inner-city public hospital. After adjustment for clinical and angiographic characteristics, recommendations to undergo revascularization were similar in blacks and whites who had coronary disease. Blacks and whites were equally likely to undergo recommended angioplasty, but blacks were significantly less likely to undergo recommended surgical revascularization.